Active ventilation system for toilet bowls

ABSTRACT

An active ventilation system for a toilet bowl is disclosed. The active ventilation system imparts an airflow to suction the air overlying the water level within the toilet bowl and carries the airflow where it is ejected into the sewer line servicing the toilet bowl. The active ventilation system includes a cavity, an upper airflow conduit having in fluid communication with a rim of the toilet bowl and the cavity, and a lower airflow conduit having an inlet at the cavity and an outlet configured for ejecting the airflow into the sewer line. A ventilation fan contained within the cavity, imparts an airflow that is drawn into the upper airflow conduit and ejected into the sewer line. Each of the cavity, the upper airflow conduit, lower airflow conduit may be cast with a base element of the toilet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bathroom fixtures, and moreparticularly to toilet bowls and improvements to the same.

The standard toilet bowl has remained relatively unchanged over time.Apart from modifications to reduce water consumption or improve theflush performance. However, these modifications do little to reduce theemission of odors and the spread of bacteria.

As can be seen, there is a need for improved apparatus and method fortoiled bowl ventilation for the reduction of odors and contain thespread of bacteria.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an active ventilation system fora toilet bowl is disclosed. The active ventilation system includes acavity, an upper airflow conduit having a first end and a second end.The first end is in fluid communication with a plurality of aperturesdisposed in a spaced apart relation in at least a portion of a rim ofthe toilet bowl. The second end is in fluid communication with thecavity. A lower airflow conduit has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet isin fluid communication with the cavity, the outlet is configured forfluid communication with a sewer line connected with a drainpipe of thetoilet. A ventilation fan is contained within the cavity, wherein, whenactivated, the ventilation fan imparts an airflow that is drawn into theplurality of apertures and ejected into the sewer line.

In some embodiments, the cavity is contained within a base of the toiletbowl.

In some embodiments, the upper airflow conduit is contained within thebase of the toilet bowl.

In some embodiments, the lower airflow conduit is contained within thebase of the toilet bowl.

In some embodiments, the outlet of the lower airflow conduit is incommunication with the drainpipe of the toilet in a downstream positionfrom an S-trap in the base of the toilet bowl.

In other aspects of the invention, a toilet bowl adapted for an activeventilation system is disclosed. The toilet bowl includes a cavitydimensioned to contain a ventilation fan. An upper airflow conduit has afirst end and a second end. The first end is in fluid communication witha plurality of apertures disposed in a spaced apart relation in at leasta portion of a rim of the toilet bowl. The second end is in fluidcommunication with the cavity. A lower airflow conduit has an inlet andan outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with the cavity and theoutlet is configured for fluid communication with a sewer line connectedwith a drainpipe of the toilet. The upper airflow conduit, the cavity,and the lower airflow conduit are configured to communicate an airflowdrawn into the plurality of apertures and ejected into the sewer line.

In some embodiments, the cavity is contained within a base of the toiletbowl.

In some embodiments, the upper airflow conduit is contained within thebase of the toilet bowl.

In some embodiments, the lower airflow conduit is contained within thebase of the toilet bowl.

In some embodiments, the outlet of the lower airflow conduit is incommunication with the drainpipe of the toilet in a downstream positionfrom an S-trap in the base of the toilet bowl.

In some embodiments, each of the cavity, the upper airflow conduit, andthe lower airflow conduit are cast with the base of the toilet bowl.

In yet other aspects of the invention, an active ventilation system fora toilet bowl is disclosed. The active ventilation system includes anupper airflow conduit having a first end and a second end. The first endis in fluid communication with one or more air inlet apertures disposedin at least a portion of a rim of the toilet bowl. A lower airflowconduit has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is in fluid communicationwith second end of the upper airflow conduit. The outlet configured forfluid communication with a drain line servicing the toilet at adownstream position from an S-trap of the toilet. A ventilation fanimparts an airflow that is drawn into the one or more apertures, carriedthrough the upper airflow conduit, the lower airflow conduit, andejected into the drain line at the downstream position from the S-trap.

In some embodiments, the ventilation fan is interposed between the upperairflow conduit and the lower airflow conduit.

In other embodiments, the ventilation fan is an axial fan.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of the active ventilationsystem for toilet bowls.

FIG. 2 is a schematic section view taken from line 2-2 of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the active ventilation system for toiletbowls with parts broken away.

FIG. 4 is a detail view taken from line 4-4 of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 is a detail view showing the sleeve broken away.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus andmethod for providing active toilet bowl ventilation to reduce theincidence of odors and reduce bacterial spread.

As seen in reference to the drawings of FIGS. 1-5 , an activeventilation system 10 for a toilet bowl is shown. The active ventilationsystem for toilet bowls 10 may be provided as an adaptation of theconventional toilet bowl to reduce odors and contain the spread ofbacterial. The toilet includes a lower toilet assembly 12 that isoperatively coupled with a tank 16 or water reservoir. The lower toiletassembly includes a bowl 12 b with a rim 12 a surrounding an upperperiphery of the bowl 12 b. A volume of water 14 is carried within thebowl 12 b and is retained therein by an S-trap 20.

Water contained within the tank 16 is carried through a water conduit 22where it is dispensed into the bowl 12 b. Typically, at least a portionof the dispensed tank water is distributed about the rim 12 a and isdelivered to the toilet bowl 12 b through a plurality of water aperturesto facilitate rinsing an interior surface of the bowl 12 b and flushingof the toilet 12. When flushed, the water 14 level in the bowl 12 bincreases until the water 14 is flushed through the S-trap 20 and adrainpipe 28 and carried into a sewer system.

The active ventilation system 10 of the present invention includes anupper airflow conduit 26 a that is in communication with the rim 12 aand one or more inlet apertures 32 disposed about the rim 12 a. A fan 24is contained within a cavity 24 a that is in communication with theupper airflow conduit 26 a and draws an airflow 30 inwardly from theinterior of the bowl 12 b. A lower airflow conduit 26 b is connectedwith the cavity 24 a to allow the airflow 30 to be expelled by the fan24 into the drainpipe 28. The lower airflow conduit 26 b is connectedwith the drainpipe 28 aft, or in a downstream position of the S-trap 20.Each of the upper airflow conduit 26 a, the lower airflow conduit 26 b,and the cavity 24 a may be cast with the base 12 of the toilet bowl.Alternatively, components of the active ventilation system may beapplied to an existing toilet bowl as a modification. In this event,communication of the lower airflow conduit 26 b with the drainpipe 28may be with a mounting flange supporting the toilet or in a downstreamposition of the drainpipe 28.

In some embodiments, the upper airflow conduit 26 a may be routed aroundthe water conduit 22 carrying water from the tank 16 to the rim 12 a,such as seen in reference to FIG. 2 . As seen in reference to FIG. 5 ,in some embodiments the upper airflow conduit 26 a may be coupled withthe cavity 24 a containing the fan 24 via a sleeve 34. A gasket 36 maybe disposed on opposed sides of the fan 24 to provide an airtightairflow pathway 30.

The ventilation fan 24 may be connected with a power source, such as asolar panel 24 b. Preferably, the ventilation fan 24 is an axial fan,such as an MS1238-H, manufactured by Mechatronics Inc. of Preston,Washington. The gaskets 36 and sleeve 34 would couple with a housingsurrounding the fan to provide the airtight airflow pathway 30. In thiscase, the cavity 24 a would include the space occupied by the housingand the ventilation fan 24.

In operation, the ventilation fan 24 is selectively operable to draw theairflow 30 from the space overlying the water level 14 carried withinthe bowl 12 b. The airflow 30 is carried through the cavity 24 b andejected into the sewer line connecting with the drainpipe 28 of the base12 of the toilet 12. Because the airflow 30 is ejected at a downstreamposition from the S-trap, the odors and bacterial contained within theairspace overlying the water level 14 of the bowl 12 b can be carriedaway into the sewer system.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An active ventilation system for a toilet bowl,comprising: a cavity; an upper airflow conduit having a first end and asecond end, the first end in fluid communication with a plurality ofapertures disposed in a spaced apart relation in at least a portion of arim of the toilet bowl, the second end in fluid communication with thecavity; a lower airflow conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the inletin fluid communication with the cavity, the outlet configured for fluidcommunication with a sewer line connected with a drainpipe of the toiletbowl; and a ventilation fan contained within the cavity, wherein, whenactivated, the ventilation fan imparts an airflow that is drawn into theplurality of apertures and ejected into the sewer line.
 2. The activeventilation system of claim 1, wherein the cavity is contained within abase of the toilet bowl.
 3. The active ventilation system of claim 2,wherein the upper airflow conduit is contained within the base of thetoilet bowl.
 4. The active ventilation system of claim 3, wherein thelower airflow conduit is contained within the base of the toilet bowl.5. The active ventilation system of claim 4, wherein the outlet of thelower airflow conduit is in communication with the drainpipe of thetoilet bowl in a downstream position from an S-trap in the base of thetoilet bowl.
 6. A toilet bowl adapted for an active ventilation system,comprising: a cavity dimensioned to contain a ventilation fan; an upperairflow conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end influid communication with a plurality of apertures disposed in a spacedapart relation in at least a portion of a rim of the toilet bowl, thesecond end in fluid communication with the cavity; and a lower airflowconduit carried with a base of the toilet bowl having an inlet and anoutlet, the inlet in fluid communication with the cavity, the outletconfigured for fluid communication with a sewer line connected with adrainpipe of the toilet bowl; and wherein the upper airflow conduit, thecavity, and the lower airflow conduit are configured to communicate anairflow drawn into the plurality of apertures and ejected into the sewerline.
 7. The toilet bowl of claim 6, wherein the cavity is containedwithin the base of the toilet bowl.
 8. The toilet bowl of claim 6,wherein the upper airflow conduit is contained within the base of thetoilet bowl.
 9. The toilet bowl of claim 6, wherein the lower airflowconduit is contained within the base of the toilet bowl.
 10. The toiletbowl of claim 6, wherein the outlet of the lower airflow conduit is incommunication with the drainpipe of the toilet bowl in a downstreamposition from an S-trap in the base of the toilet bowl.
 11. The toiletbowl of claim 6, wherein each of the cavity, the upper airflow conduit,and the lower airflow conduit are cast with the base of the toilet bowl.12. An active ventilation system for a toilet bowl, comprising: an upperairflow conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end influid communication with one or more air inlet apertures disposed in atleast a portion of a rim of the toilet bowl, a lower airflow conduithaving an inlet and an outlet, the inlet in fluid communication withsecond end of the upper airflow conduit, the outlet configured for fluidcommunication with a drain line servicing the toilet bowl at adownstream position from an S-trap of the toilet bowl; and a ventilationfan wherein, when activated, the ventilation fan imparts an airflow thatis drawn into the one or more air inlet apertures, carried through theupper airflow conduit, the lower airflow conduit, and ejected into thedrain line at the downstream position from the S-trap.
 13. The activeventilation system of claim 12, wherein the ventilation fan isinterposed between the upper airflow conduit and the lower airflowconduit.
 14. The active ventilation system of claim 12, wherein theventilation fan is an axial fan.